Raj nurse puts newborn near heater for 300 tip

Jaipur: An auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) in a government hospital in Rajasthan's Churu district allegedly placed a newborn girl close to a room heater to force the girl's family to give her Rs 300 as 'badhai' (tips).

The incident came to light on Wednesday, prompting the state government to order an inquiry on Thursday. The health department has taken the ANM off the roster.

The ANM, Neetu Gurjar, placed the girl near the heater soon after she was born on Monday and asked the parents to cough up the money.

"The infant has some redness on her buttocks. The investigation is under progress. New staff has been posted in the maternal and child unit," said chief medical health officer of Churu, Dr Ajay Chaudhary.

Apart from Neetu, three other employees of the hospital have been removed.

The health department has formed a four-member committee of doctors to probe the matter and asked it to submit its report before December 26.

The newborn's parents have lodged an FIR against the hospital staff under various sections of the IPC.

"We are waiting for the report of the doctors on how serious the injury is to the infant. Accordingly, we will be able to take action," said Kotwali SHO Bhagwan Sahay Meena.